KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOURBON AND SCOTCH WHISKEY-min

KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOURBON AND SCOTCH WHISKEY

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Alcohol is a popular and one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Anything alcoholic contains ethanol, including bourbon and scotch whiskey. However, the two have key differences.

Whiskey is an Irish term meaning “water of life.” It is one of the reigning alcoholic beverages worldwide. While there are many varieties of whiskey, people mostly consume bourbon and Scotch. When it comes to nutritional profile, these two types of whiskey are similar. However, there are many other things that set them apart, such as taste and flavor. This article explains the key differences existing between bourbon and Scotch whiskey.

Different Types of Whiskey

The making of whiskey involves fermenting grain mashes and distilling them. They are thenaged or stored in barrels containing charred oak until they mature at a desired age of production. In many cases, grains, including barley, corn, wheat, and rye are used to make whiskey.

Bourbon Whiskey

Bourbon whiskey is an alcoholic beverage made only from corn mash. It is a type of whiskey that is produced in the United States only and, according to the country’s regulations, it must be made from grain mash that is fifty-one percent corn and aged in new containers of charred oak. So far, there is no formal minimum allocated time for aging bourbon whiskey. However, any variety aged below four years must have the age highlighted on the label. For that reason, a true or straight bourbon must be aged in charred oak barrels for at least two years. Following distillation, a bottled bourbon whiskey contains a minimum of 40 percent alcohol.

Scotch Whiskey

Scotch whiskey is also called Scotch, and is primarily made from malted barley. For a product to be called Scotch, it must only be made in England. There are two main types of Scotch whiskey, single malt and single grain. Single malt Scotch whiskey is a product of malted barley and water only and made at a single distillery. On the other hand, single gain Scotch whiskey is also produced at a single distillery, but may be made from other unmalted or malted cereals of whole grains. Unlike bourbon, which has no set timeline of minimum aging, Scotch whiskey must undergo aging in charred oak barrels for a minimum of 3 years. Once it has reached a desired production age, the Scotch is distilled and bottled with a minimum alcohol content of 40 percent.

 Nutritional Comparison

When it comes to nutrition, both bourbon and Scotch have similarities. A standard 43 ml of bourbon whiskey, contains 97 calories, 0 g protein, 0 g fat, 0 g carbs, 0 g sugar, and 14 g of alcohol. Meanwhile, the same amount of Scotch whiskey contains 97 calories, 0 g protein, 0 g fat, 0 g carbs, 0 g sugar, and 14 g of alcohol. Even if they have the same calorie and alcohol content, they are made from different grains. Bourbon whiskey is produced from a grain mash that is at least 51 percent corn, while Scotch whiskey is primarily produced from malted grains. With these differences, bourbon and Scotch tend to have different taste. Bourbon is a bit sweeter, while Scotch have a more pronounced smokiness.

Benefits

Several studies indicate that consuming whiskey and alcohol in moderation, can benefit your health in a few ways.

Contains Antioxidants

Whiskey is loaded with a variety of powerful antioxidants, such as ellagic acid. Antioxidants are compounds that prevent your cells from being damaged by harmful molecules called free radicals. An imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants may lead to oxidative stress, which is associated with many chronic conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Research show that taking whiskey in moderation can increase antioxidants in your blood.

May Lower Uric Acid Levels

Accumulation of high levels of uric acid is a contributing factor to the development of gout. Research suggests that taking whiskey in moderation can help lower uric acid levels.

May Protect Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

Moderate consumption of alcohol has been linked to lowered risk of heart disease. Given that whiskey contains antioxidants, it can lower inflammation which is a risk factor for heart diseases. However, excess consumption of alcohol can seriously harm your health and increase the risk of heart disease.

May Promote Brain Health

Some research claim that moderate consumption of alcohol may improve brain function and protect the brain from disorders like dementia.

Downsides

May Lead To Fatty Liver

Alcohol contains a lot of sucrose that is metabolized in the liver. In excess amounts, sucrose gets deposited inside this crucial organ as fats. Overtime, this may cause fatty liver. Your liver also neutralizes toxic substances, and alcohol is one of them, and it may lead to damage of liver tissues.

Affects Your Brain

Too much intake of alcohol hasseveral serious effects on your brain. Ethanol, the main compound in alcohol interferes with brain cells communication. Binge drinking may lead to a group of brain problems, such as memory loss and amnesia, collectively called blackout. With time chronic abuse of alcohol may permanently interfere with your brain’s communication and lead to impaired brain function.

May Lead to Weight Gain

Many people are overweight and obesity is steadily becoming a serious health concern. Alcohol is high in calories delivering 7 calories in a single gram. In fact, alcohol is ranked second after fat in terms of calorie content. Studies suggests that heavy drinking can lead to increased weight gain.

May Compromise Heart Health

Currently, heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. It refers to a group of diseases like heart attack and stroke. While moderate whiskey and alcohol intake may lower heart disease risk, excess and chronic intake may compromise heart health. Studies suggests that factors like triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood pressure may be increased, all of which increases the risk of heart disease.

Conclusion

Bourbon and Scotch are the main types of whiskey consumed in the world. While they may have nutritional similarities, both have different taste and flavor. Bourbon is made from a 50% corn mash while Scotch is made from malted grains. Bourbon has no minimum aging period while Scotch is aged for a minimum of 3 years.

Elena Ognivtseva
Latest posts by Elena Ognivtseva (see all)

Nutritionist, Cornell University, MS

I believe that nutrition science is a wonderful helper both for the preventive improvement of health and adjunctive therapy in treatment. My goal is to help people improve their health and well-being without torturing themselves with unnecessary dietary restrictions. I am a supporter of a healthy lifestyle – I play sports, cycle, and swim in the lake all year round. With my work, I have been featured in Vice, Country Living, Harrods magazine, Daily Telegraph, Grazia, Women's Health, and other media outlets.

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